BCM complete or DD?

[dcrosle1]

Pretty much have decided on a 16 in CHF free floated keymod AR and am looking at either the DDM4V11 or getting a keymod upper and lower from BCM.

Has anybody owned a rifle from both companies?

Is there any reason to choose one over the other?

I've heard that there is some excessive play between BCM uppers and lowers that bothers some people which I wonder about myself. The DD is about $400 dollars more. I've heard DD makes their own barrels and parts while BCM sources them. What do you guys think, what should I go with for a do all shtf AR?

 

[HOOfan_1]

The play between the upper and lower is not a big deal and will vary rifle to rifle.
DD makes their own barrels and rails.

I would just buy whichever gives you the best deal

 

[Zerodefect]

BCM.


I don't like the DD keymod rail. It's their lightrail, without the rails. Lame.

 

[dcrosle1]

yea, I'm not fully set on the keymod... which other rail would you think is better? I'm leaning towards BCM since it's less expensive and probably just as good as far as quality/accuracy goes, correct me if I'm wrong

 

[Zerodefect]

The BCM KMR and Noveske NSR rails are the best.

But, the Korean rip off copies, are pretty good, and ironicly more durable than the high end rails.
IE, NSR copy:

$99

 

[Bobson]

The point of the keymod system is it gives the user the versatility of a full rail, without the weight of rails where you don't need/want them. It's the best of both worlds between a free-floated tube handguard and a quad-rail (or in the case of BCM's KMR, it's even better than a quad-rail, as it allows for mounting between the standard 3/6/9/12 positions).

If you KNOW you won't be mounting accessories on the handguard, go with a free-float tube or traditional clamshell handguard. If you want the option, but don't want to deal with the weight of a quad rail, a keymod rail is the way to go.

I'm sure the DD is a great rifle, but I don't think you're really getting anything with the M4V11 that you're missing out on through BCM's RECCE-16-KMR-A for $200 less. Then again, if you're dropping $1400, a couple hundred more for the DD name might be worth it to you. If you're reading this and you're not sure yet, then it's not. Go with BCM; you won't regret it.

At the end of the day, you're getting a combat-capable rifle either way you go.

 

[Jackal]

Wait for a Christmas sale and snag a DD for around $1100. That DD rail is probably stronger than the KMR, for what thats worth (I dont recommend driving a truck over either of them).

 

[Zerodefect]

The DD rail is ceratainly much stronger then the old KMR, and likely the new Aluminum version. The most high end rails have gone a bit far with the weight loss. But within reason, it's a non-issue. (don't let draft horses walk on your carbine)

It's just not round:


The DD feels terrible without heavy panels added. It's just the quad rail, missing the rails. LOL.

KMR is round:


Novesk NSR:

 

[dcrosle1]

Now I'm starting to wonder if the Keymod is the way to go or not, I was also thinking about an 18 in CHF barrel , but that would mean I'd have to go with DD's MK12(2,000) since the BCM 18 in barrels are all SS.. unless I just got a 20in BCM upper... decisions decisions

 

[goon]

Never tried the DD, but the KMR does get a little warm with a lightweight barrel profile in my experience. I'd consider that you may also still need to add rail covers or some other accessory to counteract that.

I also would pay attention to the 20" BCM profiles, because I think even with the BFH uppers in that length you're getting a government profile - and that profile never made much sense to me.

 

[Jackal]

decisions decisions

Buy what you want the first time. If you go in with the mentality that anything can be changed later, you might as well just build what you want yourself and skip a factory rifle.

 

[Quentin]

I bought a DD upper&BCG five years ago, then a BCM upper&BCG the following year. Both are 16" pencil barrels with midlength gas, both went on quality lowers I built up with quality parts. Both uppers fit four lowers I have well with little play. The DD barrel, receiver and BCG are finished smoother and nicer than the BCM but we're talking cosmetic differences, nothing functional. Functionally they're both as good as it gets. I do prefer the DD slightly but we're talking a sample of one from each company years ago. I don't have rails from either company so can't add anything first hand about that.

 

[gotigers]

DD. They are a manufacturer not a builder. Both are very good, but with DD, you know exactly who made the parts.

 

[taliv]

the BCM KMR rail is my new favorite rail. I still have a bunch of DD lite and Larue rails though. good stuff.

hard to go wrong with either

 

[Bobson]

Now I'm starting to wonder if the Keymod is the way to go or not, I was also thinking about an 18 in CHF barrel , but that would mean I'd have to go with DD's MK12(2,000) since the BCM 18 in barrels are all SS.. unless I just got a 20in BCM upper... decisions decisions

Going from a 16 to an 18 to a 20 inch barrel...

You mentioned wanting "a do all shtf AR." Let me remind you that a Jack of all trades is also a master of none. Starting to sound like it's not so much about the rail as it is that you just don't know what role you want this thing to fill. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but you should focus on getting that ironed out first. You can end up in the right place by comparing numerous rifles and slowly eliminating options, but it's going to take you a whole lot longer that way.

 

[Zerodefect]

Don't bother with a milspec chrome barrel for an 18" SPR. That's where you want the heavy SS barrels.

Don't want the weight, and want a chrome barrel, stick with 14.5" and 16" barrels. Carbines are carbines and rifles are rifles. It depends on wha you want the rifle to do. But I save the longer barrels for precision rifles, scopes, and SS barrels. While my carbines are usually lightweight chrome shorter barrels.

Rarely do I want something more accurate than a carbine, to do a carbines job.

 

[HGM22]

I've never understood why people pay so much for DD when BCM is much cheaper.

I think you should go either full 20'' rifle or 14.5-16'' lightweight carbine, but not in between.

 

[Averageman]

I own both.
I have a DDM4V7 and two AR's with mixed parts but BCM uppers. I'm happy with all of them. The DD compared to BCM is somewhat like the difference between an Oldsmobile and a Cadillac.
That DD is a sweet deal, but the BCM uppers are surely just as capable, perhaps just not as nice on a cosmetic factor.
I'm building either a 18 or 20 inch gun next and my choice of uppers will be either a BCM or a WOA.
I think the differences between the quality are for the most part based on personal preference.

 

[Aiko492]

Really both are of equal quality. I have owned 3 DD rifles including the current M4V11. It was my first experience to a key mod rail and I had zero issues finding which accessories I wanted/needed.

 

[tcoz]

DD. They are a manufacturer not a builder. Both are very good, but with DD, you know exactly who made the parts.

^^^^^This...and those parts were made by DD. In my book that means a lot.